Algeria peace plan approved in nationwide referendum

[JURIST] Algeria's proposed Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation [AP key points] was approved by over 97 percent of the vote in Thursday's referendum [JURIST report] as part of an effort to end a 13-year civil war in the country [CIA Factbook backgrounder]. Nationwide voter turnout topped 80 percent, but was skewed by some regions having near total participation and others hardly any in response to calls for a boycott. Some denounced the plan's broad amnesty for Islamic extremists and said while it did not exempt war criminals, it would make their prosecution more difficult. The plan does not grant amnesty to anyone involved in rape, massacres, or public bombings, but doesn't specify how to make that determination. Anywhere from 100,000 to 150,000 people were killed during the conflict; the plan provides for reparations for families of victims. AP has more.

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